Sakura Airi took a deep breath. In her clear blue eyes, an unprecedented, firm light flickered, mixed with dependence, gratitude, and shyness.
"Um... Natsukawa-kun..." She mustered all her courage, her voice still very soft, but every word was incredibly clear. "C-Can I... can I call you by your first name... from now on?"
She paused, as if afraid he would refuse, then quickly added, "Call you... Sōsuke-kun... is that okay?"
"In exchange," her small face flushed crimson, but she stubbornly didn't avert her gaze, "please... call me by my first name too."
The address "Classmate Natsukawa" could no longer convey the emotions in her heart. She wanted to be a little closer to him, even if only a little.
Natsukawa Sosuke looked at her eyes, which were filled with tension and anticipation. A subtle softness appeared in his calm gaze. He nodded.
"Okay, Sakura-san."
"...!"
The gentle response she expected didn't come, and Sakura Airi froze instantly. Then, a wave of embarrassment, anger, and grievance surged through her. The courage she had just gathered felt like it had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
She glared at him, her cheeks flushed like ripe apples from vexation, and a hint of moisture even welled up in her blue eyes again, as if accusing him of breaking his word.
Seeing this lively and vivid expression, which she had never shown in front of others, Natsukawa Sosuke finally curved his lips into a faint smile.
He corrected himself: "Okay, Airi."
These two words, like the gentlest breeze in spring, instantly dispelled all the gloom in Sakura's... no, Airi's heart.
Her face instantly turned even redder, her earlier vexation vanishing in a puff of smoke, replaced by overflowing joy. She no longer hesitated, and with a slight skip, she proactively reached out and tightly hugged Natsukawa's arm, leaning her body completely against him, as if declaring her ownership to the whole world.
"Mm!"
Standing by, Ichinose Honami, who had witnessed the entire scene, finally couldn't watch anymore.
Of course, she was happy for Airi. Seeing her open up so much, and even take the initiative, was a miraculous growth. But... what was with the saccharine atmosphere these two were radiating as if no one else was around?! (I was here first.jpg)
"Ahem!" Ichinose deliberately cleared her throat, a cheerful yet somewhat helpless smile on her face, forcibly interrupting them. "Um—I don't mean to disturb you! But if we don't go to the cafeteria soon, today's limited-edition dessert might really be gone!"
Her tone was as cheerful as ever, but for some reason, it felt a little bit sour.
Reminded by her, Airi came to her senses as if waking from a dream, letting go of his hand as if electrocuted, but her face still glowed red.
Natsukawa Sosuke naturally withdrew his arm and looked at Ichinose: "Let's go. This meal is on me today."
"Eh? Really? That's great!"
The sun was just right, the breeze gentle. The three walked side by side towards the cafeteria. This time, Airi no longer lagged half a step behind, but walked closely, and with a hint of shyness, beside Sosuke... July 1st.
As the new month arrived with the morning sun, an irrepressible excitement and anticipation, like thawing spring water, quietly spread through Class D's classroom.
After the hellish months of May and June, the students of Class D, for the first time, felt such a genuine and fervent anticipation for the concept of "points distribution day." The reversal in the midterms, coupled with the relatively restrained behavior of the entire class over the past month, made everyone believe that this time, the points arriving on their personal terminals would no longer be that humiliating zero.
"Hey, haven't they arrived yet?"
"Soon, right? Didn't they say 8 AM on the first of every month?"
"Oh my god, I scrimped and saved last month, only daring to eat the cheapest bread for lunch, all for today!"
A group of boys, led by Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, had been restless since entering the classroom that morning. They unlocked their personal terminals almost every thirty seconds, hopefully refreshing the points balance interface that represented their lifeline, as if their willpower could urge the cold numbers to appear a second sooner.
Even students who usually paid little attention to their surroundings couldn't help but focus on their phones now. After all, in this school, points were equivalent to everything. They were not only a guarantee of survival but also the only affirmation of their efforts over the past month.
However, time ticked by, minute by minute.
The chime of eight o'clock came through the campus broadcast system, crisp and punctual.
The air in the classroom seemed to solidify at that moment. Everyone held their breath, pressing the refresh button one last time with trembling fingers.
The numbers on the screen still hadn't changed.
"...What's going on?"
"Is the system delayed?"
The initial anticipation, after a brief silence, quickly fermented into confusion and anxiety. The previously lively atmosphere, as if doused with cold water, instantly cooled down, leaving only whispers and uneasy commotion.
"Creak—"
The classroom door opened, and Chabashira Sae walked in, her high heels clicking, her expression as cold as ever. Her gaze, like a scanner, indifferently swept over the anxious and questioning eyes below the podium.
"Stand. Bow."
Under Hirata Yosuke's command, the pre-homeroom etiquette proceeded in an orderly fashion. But everyone's minds were clearly not there.
Just as Chabashira Sae was about to announce the end of homeroom, someone finally couldn't hold back.
"Um... Chabashira-sensei!"
Ike Kanji suddenly stood up from his seat, his voice clearly agitated, "Isn't today the first? Why... why haven't our points been credited yet?!"
This question, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly resonated with the entire class. Everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on Chabashira Sae at the podium.
Chabashira Sae glanced at him, her eyes showing no ripple, as if she had already anticipated this question.
"Regarding this, the school has just issued a notice."
She paused, seemingly enjoying the students' anxious waiting.
"Due to a small incident during this monthly settlement, the points distribution for all first-year students will be uniformly delayed. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will be credited to your accounts no later than two days from now."
Dispute?
This vague term instantly caused an uproar among the students of Class D.
"Are you kidding me! Two days from now? I don't even have points for dinner tonight!"
"Exactly! Why would there be a dispute? Did the school system make a mistake?"
"Will the school compensate us?"
However, no matter how noisy it was below the podium, Chabashira Sae's expression remained unchanged.
"This is the school's decision. Once the matter is resolved, points will be distributed as usual... if there are still points then."
After Chabashira Sae finished speaking, she turned and left... The bell for afternoon dismissal rang, and the students, as if drained of energy, slowly packed their bags.
Just then, Chabashira Sae's stern voice once again echoed in the noisy classroom.
"Sudo, come to my office."
Sudo Ken, who was about to rush to the gym immediately, suddenly stiffened.
"Huh? Why me? I have Basketball Club practice later!"
To him, basketball was far more important than dealing with this gloomy Class teacher.
Chabashira Sae stood at the doorway, not even turning her head, just turning sideways and glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Regarding this, I've already spoken with the Basketball Club's advisor."
"Whether you come to the office or not is up to you."
With that, she turned and walked away, the clicking of her high heels disappearing down the corridor.
Sudo Ken's face was grim. But he eventually grumbled and walked out of the classroom, following her with a reluctant expression.
Inside the classroom, most students merely cast a curious glance at this seemingly ordinary scene, then continued with their own affairs, some even beginning to badmouth Sudo.
Only a few, however, sensed something unusual in this seemingly ordinary moment.
...
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